How to do really well at college by Cal Newport

How Howto todo do(really) (really) well wellat atDartmouth Dartmouth

Cal Newport ’04 2/6/07

What What do dosuccessful successfulcollege college students studentsdo dodifferently? differently?

What What do do“successful” “successful” college collegestudents studentsdo dodifferently? differently?

What What do do“successful” “successful” college collegestudents studentsdo dodifferently? differently?

(1) Increase knowledge; learn how to learn (2) Open up post-graduation opportunities (3) Have some fun; find yourself

What What do do“successful” “successful” college collegestudents studentsdo dodifferently? differently?

What What do do“successful” “successful” college collegestudents studentsdo dodifferently? differently?

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USA USAToday TodayAcademic AcademicAll-Stars All-Stars

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USA USAToday TodayAcademic AcademicAll-Stars All-Stars • 4.0 GPA

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USA USAToday TodayAcademic AcademicAll-Stars All-Stars • 4.0 GPA • Paul won a grant to compare anti-gang "Iron Fist" laws and their impact on the rule of law in Central American countries.

• Paper at the Latin American Studies Association • Rhodes Scholar and Truman Scholar • Prizewinning essayist • Author of an article in the University of California's Politica • Started an English tutoring program for Hispanic students.

• And so on…

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How Howto toBecome BecomeCEO CEO

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The TheSlump…

Slump…

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The TheLoan LoanStatement Statement

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Focused daytime chunks

Didn’t work

Work days and rest days

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Focused daytime chunks

Didn’t work

Work days and rest days

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Focused daytime chunks

12

lunch Didn’t work

Work days and rest days

3

class

6

dinner

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Focused daytime chunks

12

lunch Didn’t work

Work days and rest days

3

class

6

dinner

Work time‌

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment

focused work

Worked

Focused daytime chunks

12

lunch Didn’t work

focused work Work days and rest days 3

class

focused work 6

dinner

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment

focused work

Worked

Focused daytime chunks

12

lunch Didn’t work

focused work Work days and rest days 3

class

focused work 6

dinner

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Didn’t work

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Speed reading

sophomore

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senior “blah blah blah…”

The “blah blah blah…”

TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment “blah blah blah…” “blah blah blah…”

Worked

Didn’t work “blah blah blah…”

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Speed reading

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senior “blah blah blah…”

The “blah blah blah…”

TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment “blah blah blah…” “blah blah blah…”

Worked

Didn’t work “blah blah blah…”

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Speed reading

Big idea…

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The “blah blah blah…”

TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment “blah blah blah…” “blah blah blah…”

Worked

Didn’t work “blah blah blah…”

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

blah blah blah…

Speed blah reading blah blah… blah blah blah… blah blah blah… blah blah blah…

sophomore

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senior “blah blah blah…”

The “blah blah blah…”

TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment “blah blah blah…” “blah blah blah…”

Worked

Didn’t work “blah blah blah…”

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

blah blah blah…

Speed blah reading blah blah… blah blah blah… blah blah blah… blah blah blah…

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senior “blah blah blah…”

The “blah blah blah…”

TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment “blah blah blah…” “blah blah blah…”

Worked

Didn’t work “blah blah blah…”

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Big Idea #1 Summary Speed reading * blah blah blah… * blah blah blah…

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The “blah blah blah…”

TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment “blah blah blah…” “blah blah blah…”

Worked

Focused daytime chunks Big-Idea Centric Notes

Didn’t work “blah blah blah…”

Work days and rest days QUESTION: why was _____? * evidence…

Speed reading * evidence…

CONCLUSION: a product of the moral climate of the time.

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Didn’t work

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Speed reading

Make annotated copies

Take home to library

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Didn’t work

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Speed reading

Make annotated copies

Take home to library

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The TheGreat Great Experiment Experiment Worked

Didn’t work

Focused daytime chunks

Work days and rest days

Big-Idea Centric Notes

Speed reading

Make annotated copies

Take home to library

and so on‌

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#1: #1: Studying Studyingisisaanon-optimized non-optimizedproblem problem

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#1: #1: Studying Studyingisisaanon-optimized non-optimizedproblem problem

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#1: #1: Studying Studyingisisaanon-optimized non-optimizedproblem problem

• Not all work is made equal • Quiz-and-Recall • When/Where/How Long

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades A winter among the young entrepreneurs‌

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades

Inspired Inspiredperiod periodof of frenzied frenziedeffort effort

Big BigAccomplishment Accomplishment

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades

Inspired Inspiredperiod periodof of frenzied frenziedeffort effort “I’ll wait until the perfect time for me to be inspired…”

Big BigAccomplishment Accomplishment

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades

Inspired Inspiredperiod periodof of frenzied frenziedeffort effort “I’ll wait until the perfect time for me to be inspired…”

Big BigAccomplishment Accomplishment

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades

Small SmallStrategic StrategicSteps, Steps, Consistently, Consistently, Over OverTime‌ Time‌

Big BigAccomplishment Accomplishment

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Beyond BeyondGrades Grades

Small SmallStrategic StrategicSteps, Steps, Consistently, Consistently, Over OverTime…

Time…

“Start. Keep going.”

Big BigAccomplishment Accomplishment

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My MyLadder Ladder Plan Plan

Goal: Goal:

Get a book deal.

Position: Position:

• Have a track record as a paid published writer • Tweak concept for maximum appeal (introduce “brand names”) • Have research done so you can preview exact content

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My MyLadder Ladder deal pitch to agent college bound: 10 simple tips college bound: time management the student leader

business today

student.com friend’s web publication

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#2: #2: Ladder Ladder to toAchievement Achievement

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#2: #2: Ladder Ladder to toAchievement Achievement

• “Always be working on a grand project” • “Seek out phenomenal achievers” • “Choose goals, explore routes”

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload The curse of the college student

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload My Senior Fall: write a book take classes research extra-curricular duties job hunting grad school applications fellowship applications GREs freelance writing last fall with friends

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload My Senior Fall:

one onehour hourevery everymorning morning

write a book take classes research extra-curricular duties job hunting grad school applications fellowship applications GREs freelance writing last fall with friends

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload My Senior Fall:

morning morningand andafternoon, afternoon, get getahead aheadon onSundays Sundays

write a book take classes research extra-curricular duties job hunting grad school applications fellowship applications GREs freelance writing last fall with friends

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload My Senior Fall:

rotating rotatingschedule, schedule, early earlyevening eveningpushes pushes

write a book take classes research extra-curricular duties job hunting grad school applications fellowship applications GREs freelance writing last fall with friends

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Battling BattlingOverload Overload My Senior Fall:

standing standingmeals, meals, plan planininadvance advance

write a book take classes research extra-curricular duties job hunting grad school applications fellowship applications GREs freelance writing last fall with friends

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset A brilliant plan is better than a brilliant player‌

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset At the start of every semester…

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset At the start of every semester…

(1) (1)Identify Identify What’s What’sImportant Important

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset At the start of every semester…

(1) (1)Identify Identify What’s What’sImportant Important (2) (2)Ideal IdealOutcome Outcomefor forEach Each

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset At the start of every semester…

(1) (1)Identify Identify What’s What’sImportant Important (2) (2)Ideal IdealOutcome Outcomefor forEach Each (3) (3) Custom Custom Game GamePlan Planto to Connect Connect (1) (1) and and(2) (2)

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset Some specific tactics to help construct your game plans…

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INSIGHT INSIGHT#3: #3:Adopt Adopt aaBill BillWalsh WalshMindset Mindset Some specific tactics to help construct your game plans…

• Set Arbitrary deadlines • Have a Capture System • Don’t use a to-do list -- time block • Make standing work appointments

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Conclusion Conclusion No one specific habit shared by all students I studied

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Conclusion Conclusion No one specific habit shared by all students I studied A game plan is always better than none.

Experimenting is always better than the status quo

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Conclusion Conclusion No one specific habit shared by all students I studied A game plan is always better than none.

Experimenting is always better than the status quo Don’t take any of this too seriously

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Conclusion Conclusion No one specific habit shared by all students I studied A game plan is always better than none.

Experimenting is always better than the status quo Don’t take any of this too seriously http://www.calnewport.com